Health Min confirms private COVID-19 vaccines imports are allowed

[snoop1130]

 

BANGKOK (NNT) - The Ministry of Public Health has reiterated it is not blocking private organizations from importing COVID-19 vaccines, pointing out it has already registered three for the process and is considering a fourth.

 

Secretary-General of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Dr. Paisan Dankhum said today there are no blockages to private sector members importing COVID-19 vaccine and encouraged such organizations to seek registration.

 

He said 14 companies have so far submitted documentation for approval.

 

• Three already given the go-ahead, namely AstraZeneca (Thailand), the Government Pharmaceutical Organization and Janssen-Cilag.
• Biogenetech is currently being vetted.
• Another 10 companies have yet to submit all needed documentation to the FDA and will be reviewed in terms of safety, quality and efficacy.

 

The administration has created an express channel for consideration but is maintaining international standards with the process taking up to 30 days from document submission.

 

Hospitals are allowed to utilize the imported vaccines of private firms but must register recipients due to the emergency nature of their use so that any side effects can be tracked.

 

Meanwhile, Director of the National Vaccine Institute Dr. Nakorn Premsri addressed questions to do with the mutated strain of the COVID-19 virus and its vaccine, saying negotiations to receive the specific inoculation would at the soonest mean shots becoming available in October. He said careful consideration of the circumstances is needed as viruses are constantly evolving.

 

-- © Copyright NNT 2021-04-09

 

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[kotsak]

[brewsterbudgen]

The British Council vaccinated all their Bangkok staff yesterday, both Thai and non-Thai, presumably imported from the UK.

[Guitar God]

So by “soon”, they mean October? 

[P Funk]

Need a vaccine against government stupidity....

[overherebc]

15 minutes ago, Guitar God said:

So by “soon”, they mean October? 

Manyana, without the same sense of urgency?  Is that what you mean?????

????????

Edited April 9, 2021 by overherebc

[WHansen]

I have read this several times to try and understand the process. I may be wrong but to me it looks like private companies need to apply to the Thai FDA to import vaccines, after approval is granted by the FDA, those companies/organisations can import vaccines and then the hospitals or clinics can negotiate with said companies to supply them vaccines.

 

I hope i have misunderstood this and there are NOT a lot of already rich people applying to be middlemen to earn lots of Baht from this importation of vaccines.

[Jeffr2]

8 hours ago, Guitar God said:

So by “soon”, they mean October? 

From what I've heard, from someone working at one of the big private hospitals, they're shooting for June.  But it could be very costly at first.

[cardinalblue]

Big difference between might and will...

[Jeffr2]

8 hours ago, WHansen said:

I have read this several times to try and understand the process. I may be wrong but to me it looks like private companies need to apply to the Thai FDA to import vaccines, after approval is granted by the FDA, those companies/organisations can import vaccines and then the hospitals or clinics can negotiate with said companies to supply them vaccines.

 

I hope i have misunderstood this and there are NOT a lot of already rich people applying to be middlemen to earn lots of Baht from this importation of vaccines.

Quite a few of the vaccine manufacturers have already applied for approval here in Thailand.  They're working on the final FDA approvals.  So should have a good choice from private hospitals in June.  Hopefully.

[MasterBaker]

14 hours ago, brewsterbudgen said:

The British Council vaccinated all their Bangkok staff yesterday, both Thai and non-Thai, presumably imported from the UK.

Foreign consulates are a not under Thailand jurisdiction

[Deli]

Asked at BKK International Hospital Phuket if they have a program for private vaccine. Got an answer not matching with my question...

[ExpatOilWorker]

9 hours ago, P Funk said:

Need a vaccine against government stupidity....

I think that is called a bullet.  Careful what you wish for.

[mtls2005]

10 hours ago, WHansen said:

I have read this several times to try and understand the process. I may be wrong but to me it looks like private companies need to apply to the Thai FDA to import vaccines, after approval is granted by the FDA, those companies/organisations can import vaccines and then the hospitals or clinics can negotiate with said companies to supply them vaccines.

 

 

It is confusing, assume that's done on purpose.

 

 

My read is that vaccines need to be Thai FDA approved, and companies need to be approved to import an approved vaccine. And each company must make a separate application for each vaccine.

 

So far three vaccines are Thai FDA approved: AZ, Sinovac, J&J (Janssen).

 

Fourteen companies (could be anyone: hospitals, logistics companies, etc.) have applied to import approved vaccines. Three, maybe four, have been approved, Ten are in the red-tape zone, probably need to grease the skids.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited April 10, 2021 by mtls2005

[brucegoniners]

Up to 30 days? Is that 30 regular days or 30 Thai days (multiply Thai time by 10). The applications went in early this year. In fact they may have gone in earlier than that. The hospital I was talking to said they anticipated Moderna by late February. In late February they told me the Thai FDA hadn't approved the vaccine. I'll ask the question again, why is the Thai FDA taking so long when this vaccine was approved in the US and through much of the rest of the world last year? 

[brewsterbudgen]

1 hour ago, MasterBaker said:

Foreign consulates are a not under Thailand jurisdiction

The British Council isn't directly part of the UK Embassy.  In Bangkok its main function is as a language school. Credit to them in getting all their teachers and Thai staff vaccinated.

[mtls2005]

15 hours ago, brewsterbudgen said:

The British Council vaccinated all their Bangkok staff yesterday, both Thai and non-Thai, presumably imported from the UK.

 

This was a first shot? Do you know which vaccine was used?

 

Did they ship this in under Dilpomatic cover?

 

 

I guess I'm surprised that Thais could be vaccinated this way, but maybe this is allowed?

 

Wonder what medical supervision was utilized?

 

How many employees do they have?

[Jimbo2014]

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Another 10 companies have yet to submit all needed documentation to the FDA and will be reviewed in terms of safety, quality and efficacy.

 

and kickbacks ????

[brewsterbudgen]

Just now, mtls2005 said:

 

This was a first shot? Do you know which vaccine was used?

 

Did they ship this in under Dilpomatic cover?

 

 

I guess I'm surprised that Thais could be vaccinated this way, but maybe this is allowed?

 

Wonder what medical supervision was utilized?

 

How many employees do they have?

 They got the Astrazeneca shot and will have the second one in June.  Not sure where they got it, but it seems like teachers and staff at all their branches (in Bangkok) got it. 

[mtls2005]

I know it's not the same, but the following vaccines are approved for foreigners wishing to travel to Thailand, and maybe as of 1 Oct, maybe with no quarantine.

 

Travelers vaccinated with the list of vaccine approved by the Ministry of Public Health of Thailand as follows: (as of 31 March 2021)

                             (1)  Sinovac

                             (2)  AstraZeneca / Oxford

                             (3)  SK BIOSCIENCE AstraZeneca / Oxford

                             (4)  Pfizer / BioNTech

                             (5)  Covishield (Serum Institute of India)

                             (6)  Janssen – Johnson & Johnson

                             (7)  Moderna

 

 

 

[schlog]

1 hour ago, Deli said:

Asked at BKK International Hospital Phuket if they have a program for private vaccine. Got an answer not matching with my question...

They contacted me 3-4 weeks ago if i want vaccination and which shot. I choose the J&J and they put me&wife on their priority list. Expect to get it end may beginning june. 

[mtls2005]

1 minute ago, brewsterbudgen said:

Not sure where they got it,

 

See some detailed info on the vaccine card, which someone could probably use to track the source?

[simtemple]

13 minutes ago, brewsterbudgen said:

 They got the Astrazeneca shot and will have the second one in June.  Not sure where they got it, but it seems like teachers and staff at all their branches (in Bangkok) got it. 

How many of them survived? 

https://news.yahoo.com/clear-between-astrazeneca-vaccine-rare-115707510.html

[Jeffr2]

https://edition.cnn.com/world/live-news/coronavirus-pandemic-vaccine-updates-04-09-21/h_eaaa1fb29458a3b948b89285e98e7279

 

CDC aware of 4 US states reporting adverse reactions to Johnson & Johnson vaccine

[Tom89]

2 hours ago, Jeffr2 said:

From what I've heard, from someone working at one of the big private hospitals, they're shooting for June.  But it could be very costly at first.

Any idea how costly?

 

[thailand49]

The process seem to be taking a bit long in my opinion the submission for approval was done some time ago. Maybe the longer it take the more money is made by the so call company (monopoly) the problem seem the AZ is going downhill fast?

Whenever, the others are approved can you make sure they don't charge an arm and leg. I read back the cost might 2500B for a jab now I hear a hospital in Siracha is asking 8000?  Not being a cheap charlie I'll take and pay as long as I get a VIP card to come and go as I please without insurance or quarantine pre-covid style?????

[Jeffr2]

3 minutes ago, Tom89 said:

Any idea how costly?

 

One source said 6-10k.  Another said 2-3x that.  I think no one knows right now.

 

I believe the 6-10k Baht was in a news article here a month ago or so.

[thailand49]

2 minutes ago, thailand49 said:

The process seem to be taking a bit long in my opinion the submission for approval was done some time ago. Maybe the longer it take the more money is made by the so call company (monopoly) the problem seem the AZ is going downhill fast?

Whenever, the others are approved can you make sure they don't charge an arm and leg. I read back the cost might 2500B for a jab now I hear a hospital in Siracha is asking 8000?  Not being a cheap charlie I'll take and pay as long as I get a VIP card to come and go as I please without insurance or quarantine pre-covid style?????

Jeffr2,  no hard feelings my apologies for my bad comment no excuse but I was in a bad way no excuse. My middle name is Jeffrey my love of my life nephew is also Jeffrey.????

[hotchilli]

16 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

He said 14 companies have so far submitted documentation for approval.

Not blocking them but certainly dragging their heels.

[tandor]

11 hours ago, P Funk said:

Need a vaccine against government stupidity....

..that will be in 2031.